Machine for forming sealed wrapped packages.



H. G. SCHWERDTLE.

MACHINE FOR PORMING SEALED WRAPPED PACKAGES.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 5. 191e.

1,1 31,741 Patented Mar.16,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H, G. SCHWERDTLE. MACHINE FOR FORMING SEALED WRAPPED PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5. 1913.

151 31,741 Patented Mar.16,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. G. SGHWBRDTLE. MACHINE POR FORMING SEALED WRAPPED PACKAGES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1913.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. G. SGHWERDTLE. MACHINE PoR EOEMING SEALED WEAPPED PACKAGES.

APPLICATIOIF FILED NOV.5. 1913.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHBBTSSHEET 4.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

HENRXG. scHwEHDTL, or. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoE. To sToxEs a SMITH coMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, rHNNsYLvANTA, A CORPORATION or rENN- SYL'VANIA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING SEAIII'LI'.) WRAPPED PACKAGES.

l in Machines for Forming Sealed Wrapped Packages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for applying wrappers to packages for the purpose of forming what are known as sealed wrapped packages and is an im'provement on that type of box covering machines set forth in Letters Patent granted tovPhilip S. Smith No. 691,329, dated January 14,

1902, and No. 778,805, dated December 27,

1904, and is an adaptation of machines of this class for the special purpose set forth, and is also an improvement on a machine for forming sealed wrapped packages application Serial No.i782,328 filed byi James D. Reifsnyder and George H. Fath July 31, 1913.

The object of this invention is to provide,

a machine for folding and sealing a wrapper around packaged materials especially such package,

materials as are packed in boxes. A

The package and the cover coated vwith an adhesive and applied to one wall of the package are fed into the machine and, passing therethrough, the wrapper is first folded and sealed against the four vertical sides of the package, after which the projecting upstanding ends ofsaid wrapper are turned over andsecured to the remaining side of the which in the case of a box is preferably the bottom, said turned over ends sealing the cover to the box and closing the space between the cover and box against entrance offoreign matter. The Vends of the wrapper secured to the bottom of the box do not cover the entire bottom, but extend thereover .only suiiiciently far to secure a tight seal.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of a novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterl described and-illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an end elevation partly in section as seen from the right of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in section as seen from the left of Fig. y1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedMair. 14.6, i915.

dApplication filed November 5, 1913. Serial No. 799,302.

wrapper' folding mechanism. Fig. 4 is a perspective v lew of a sealed wrapped package. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the automatically operated clamp for holding the platen depressed. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the wrapper blank. Figs. 8 to 13 are detail views of portions of the wrapper mechanism showing by progressive stages the manner in which a wrapper is folded and secured about a package.

Similar reference characters are used thrctiughout all the figures to indicate like par s.

Referring first to Fig. 7, A is the wrapper,

as a whole, made substantially of the form shown, on the central part a of which the package is placed after the upper surface of thev wrapper .has been completely covered with an adhesive. a, a4 are flaps projecting from opposite sides of the part a, of which the flaps a' are turned up by the first folding operation against corresponding sides of the package in which position side laps a2 thereon will project beyond the other sides of the package and end laps a3 above the upper surface of the same. The side laps a2 are next folded around the corners'of the package against the sides thereof, lafter which the flaps a4 are folded aganist said sides and cover the end laps a2. From the flaps a* end laps a5 project upwardly above the package, and in connection with the end laps a", are folded over the upper side of saidpackage to complete the wrapping and sealing thereof.

` Mountedl upon legs 2Ol which rise from the floor is a table 21, having an opening 22 in its center, through which projects the wrapper folding mechanism, and

therefor are carried during the course o the wrapping operation. Rising from the top of thetable at the right side thereof is a Vvertical standard 23 from which an arm or the opening 22 in the table 21 by means of acounterbalanced lever 29 fulcrumed at 30 also vthrough which the package and the wra per on an arm 31 projecting out from the standard 23. The free end of the lever 29 is pivoted to a link 32, adjustable in said link by a thumb screw 33. Apin 34 pivotally Connects the upper end of the link to the slide '27. 'lhe vibration of the lever 29 on its fulcrum 30 reciprocates the slide 27 in its guides thereby raising and lowering the pusher block or plunger 28.

A short distance below the table 2l is a plate 35 secured to the legs 20. Bolted to this plate are bearings 36 in which revolves a shaft 37, driven by a belt pulley 38 or other means, carrying a worm 39 fixed thereon. In rear of the worm 39 and driven thereby is a worm wheel 40 keyed on the lower end of an upright shaft 41 stepped in a bearing supported on the plate 35, said shaft extending vertically'behind the standard 23 and above the same and turning in suitable bearings on the standard. On the upper end of the shaft 41 is a drum 42 in the periphery of which are two cam grooves 43, 44, that extend entirely around said drum, the lower cam 43 actuating the lever 29 by means of a stud or roller 45 carried by said lever. Rotation of the cam-drum in the direction indicated by the arrow will cause the lever 29 to swing downwardly and move the slide 27 and the pusher block or plunger thereon through the table 21. The plunger will pause momentarily and then be carried to its lowest position, after an instants stop it will be raised slightly, then lowered and finally raised to its highest position ready to act on another package. The object of these various movements of the plunger will be set forth later.

Slidable vertically in ears 55 projecting laterally from the right and left sides of the plate 25 are rods 56 connected at their upper ends by a plate 57 which extends be'- hind the slide 27 above the top of the plate 25. The lower ends of the rods 56 are secured in the end of a U-shaped frame or bar 58 that curves rearwardly behind the sliding stem 27 in order to clear the same, said frame or bar being connected by means of a link 59 to one end of a lever 60 pivotally mounted on the arm or bracket 24 intermediate its ends and having at its opposite end a pin orroller 61 extending into the upper cam groove 44 on the drum 42. rIfhe lever 60 is rocked in a vertical direction when the cam drum 42 rotates, and through the link 59 raises and lowers the frame or bar 58.

Fixed in the ends of the U-shaped frame l orv bar 58 and projecting to the right and left thereof in a horizontal directlon and preferably in line, are two arms 64 upon each of which is adjustably mounted a collar 65 which may bemoved longitudinally 4on said arm. Each collar 65 supports a finger 66, adjustable in a direction at right angles to the axis of the arms 64. VOn each finger at its rear end is a downwardly projecting angle shaped gage plate 67, which in the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. l, projects below the under surfaces of the plunger 28. These gage plates lie close to the rear corners of the pusher block or plunger 28, and serve as a guide to position the box or package that is to be Wrapped, relatively to the plunger, when inserted in the machine.

Secured to the plate 35 which sustains the bearings for the worm shaft 37 is a support A68 in a vertical line below center of the plunger or pusher block 28. A hollow bear- .ing 69 projects upwardly fromthe support 68 in which bearing is mounted to slide in a vertical direction, a hollow stem 70 on the upper end of which is secured a platen 71 that serves as a support for the wrapper and the article to be wrapped during its passage through the wrapping mechanism. The

platen is held above the plane of the table 21 by yielding pressure, in the present instance a spiral spring 72 within the hollow stem 70 serves the purpose. When the plunger 28 and the frame 58 with the gagev plates or lingers 67 descend with the wrapper and the article to be wrapped, said article and wrapper engage the platen, and are held by and between said platen and the plunger during their progress through the folding mechanism, the spring 72 returning the platen and the wrapped package to initial position after the wrapping operation has been completed.

When the platen 71 is forced by the downward movement ofthe plunger 28 into 1ts lowest position, the platen would rise during the short retreat of the plunger were not means provided to retain it 1n such lowered position. The means here shown is one of many that may be employed and has proven very satisfactory in nthe practical .operation of the machine, a different means may, however, be applied if desired, or found more suitable under changed conditions.

'lhe platen holding means or clamp here used and illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and 6 comprises two gripping jaws 46, 46, pivotally connected together and mounted on a bracket 47 secured to the plate'35 to swing in a horizontal direction, said jaws having opposing concave depressions in their ends through which the stem 70 of the platen 71 travels, and which clamp said stem when the platen is to be held immovable. The opposite ends of thejawshave each an outwardly 'inclined tail, said tails being pivot.

.top of the bracket 47. The opposite end of the slide carries a roller 51, vwhich at the proper time in the rotation of the vertical 139 marga-41 'shaft 41, is 'engaged 'a projecting cam .bearing 50.

The folding mechanism employed in this machine is in the main, substantially the same-as that shown inthe herei-nbefore mentioned patents granted to Philip S. Smith, and the co-pending application filed by Reifsnyder and Fath, and, therefore, will be referred to here only in general terms.

On the top ofthe table 21 at the front and rear thereof, are guides 73 in which are held plates or slides 7`4 adjustable to and from the center of the opening 22 in the table, said plates being held in adjusted position by set screws 75. Ehe inner end of each plate 74 supports a rdller 76, 'the ends of which are mounted inliearings on the=ends of yarms 77 projecting upwardly from plates 74. Also mounted on each arm 77 is a brush 78 above the roller 76 and substantially as long as said rollen-@if Depending from'each plate 74 below thearm 77 is a bracket 79 provided with bearings which support a sliding frame 80, thenner end of which frame .has fixed thereon a bar 81 extending atright angles to the line of movement of said frame. On each bar 81 are two sleeves 82 on "each of which is mounted a yielding side lap tuck-in linger 63. Each frame 80- with its two tuck-in fingers 83 is moved toward and away from the center of the machine by means of a three-armed Vlever 84 pivoted on a bracket depending from the under side of the table 21 at its rear, and'actuated by a cam groove 85 in `a' drum 86 fixed on the vertical shaft 41 that .carries the drum 42. One of the arms is provided with a pin or roller engaging the cam groove 85, the other arms 84h are connected by links 86 with downwardly projecting arms 87 on cross-shafts 88 one at the front andtheother-.at the rear of the machine. An upwardly extending arm 89 lon each shaft is connectedv by a link 90 one tothe frame 80 at the front of the machine, and the other to the like'frame at therear of the machine. When Vthe threearmed lever 84 is rocked, the frames 80 move 'simultaneously to and from' the center of the plates 91 are brackets-94 .to thel brackets '79."but'sho'rten In feachfbracket v:79 and 94A is mounted f a :horizontal sliding frame 95 to the inner'end of 'which is v:fixed horizontal lend-tuck-in fingers 96, the four lingers lyinginthesame horizontal plane. Just below each frame 95 is a second horizontallsliding frame 97 each supporting on its: inner end a presser block 98 from the ex-` terior 'side of which projects a. lug 99. Mounted to rock in each bracket 79, 94 adjacent lvthe lug 99 is a rocking cam 100 to which is fixed a short arm 101 by means of which zsaidcam is actuated to advance the frame 97 -with the presser blocks 98, and through the v.medium of a link 102 pivoted to said arm and to the adjacent lhorizontal sliding `frame 95,-the end-tuck-in finger 96 connected to .said'slidi-ng frame is advanced and retracted. Movement is imparted to all the arms 101 -to simultaneously advance the presser blocks 98 land-the end-tuckin fingers.

jacent bracket. rlrhe upper end of each of said pins 106 is connected by a link 107 with one ofthe short arms 101. Movement is imparted to the sleeve 103 by a cam groove 108 inthe drum'86 actuating one end of a rocking lever 109 pivoted intermediate its ends upon an arm 110 extending from the bearing support 68, the other end of said lever being connected by a link 111 with the sleeve 103.

j Inv the operation of the machine, the worm .39 is rotated continuously and through itsvconnection to the worm wheel 40 imparts'continuous rotation to the` vertical shaft 41 and thecam drums 42 and-86 thereon. -At each rotation of the drums, when they arrivevat the position shown in Fig. 1, a lpaCkage'B, which in the present instance is a boxmade of paper board lled with merchandise, and closed` with a cover that projects over the box and extends to the bottom thereof. .This box with its bottom uppermost and a blank A adhering to the top of the cover is placed by an attendant against the underside of the plunger 28, and against the gage plates 67, which latter exactly position the box relatively to the plunger. As thus placed the flaps al, a4, of the vWrapper project laterally from the box-asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and8. vRotation of the caml drum 42 now causes the levers 29 and 60 to swing downwardly, simultaneously depressing the plunger and the gage fingers, vthe latter maintaining the box in position against said plunger. during its passage to the platen 71. As soon as the box and .-the.wrapper have reached, or

v the box and wrapper against the platen to'y nearly reached the platen, the gage fingers 67 will' pause, the plunger however continues its downward movement and presses hold them securely in position against movement during their passage through the wrapping mechanism. The approach of a box and its wrapper to the platen bring the two iaps a1 of the wrapper into contact with the brushes 78, which turn up said flaps against corresponding sides of the box. The plunger, box, wrapper, and platen now move downwardly together, the iaps a1 previously turned up by the brushes are by the rollers 93, pressed against the sides of said box into close contact therewith to cause the adhesion of said iaps, see Fig. 9. As soon as l the box and wrapper have passed below the rollers 76 the downward movement is arrested momentarily, during which pause the. sliding frames 80 are moved inwardly with their tuck-in fingers 83 to fold the side laps a2 against the uncovered sides of the box, as in Fig. 10. Upon withdrawal of the frames 80, the downward movement of the box continues. The two flaps a* now encounter the rollers 93, by means of which said flaps are turned up against the remaining vertical sides of the box and over the turned-in side laps a2, see Fig. 11. Passing the rollers 93 the plunger, partly wrapper box and platen now reach their lowest position, see dotted lines Fig. 1, whereupon the cam lug 52 moves the slide 49 and causes the jaws 46, 46 to grip the stem 70 and hold the platen immovable in its lowest position while the plunger retreats a short distance to permit the end laps as, a, to be folded over the bottom of the box. During the time the-platen is held by the jaws and the plunger raised from the box, the presser blocks 90 are moved to bear on the vertical sides or walls of the box, and the tuck-in fingers 96 simultaneously fold the laps a3, a5, of the wrapper over the bottom of said box. The fingers 96 which fold the laps a5 move before the fingers which turn the laps a3, the earlier movement being due to the fact that the connection between the short 50 earms 101 and links 102 that actuate the lat 1. Ina machine for forming a sealedM` wrapped package, the combination with wrapper folding and valiixlng instrumenamies for applying an adhesively coated wrapper to all the walls of the package' save one, leaving the marginal edges of said .wrapper projecting above the plane of said uncovered wall, said folding instrumentalities including devices for turning the projecting marginal edges of the wrapper over the uncowf'ered wall of the package, of a movable package supporting platen, and a in, and then a further downward movement of said plunger, and means for holding said platen` in xed position during the temporary retreat of said plunger.

2. In a machine for forming a sealed wrapped package, the combination with wrapper folding and aiiixing instrumentalities for applying an adhesively coated wrapper to all the walls of a package save one, leaving the marginal edges of said wrapper projecting above the plane of said uncovered wall, of a movable package supporting platen, and a coperating reciprocating plunger between which said package and its wrapper are supported and carried through said folding instrumentalities, means for causing a'temporary limited retreat of said plunger and then a second forward movement thereof to bring the. plunger against the package, means for folding the projecting edges of the .wrapper over the uncovered walls of the package, and means for holding said platen in fixed position during the temporary retreat of said plunger and until said second forward movement of said plunger secures said wrapper edges to said package.

3. In a machine for. forming a sealedV wrapped package, the combination with wrapper folding and afiixing instrumentalities for applying an adhesively coated wrapper to all the walls of a package save one, rleaving' the marginal edges of said wrapper projecting above the plane of said uncovered wall, of a movable package supporting platen, and a coperating plunger between which said package and its wrapper are supported and carried through said folding instrumentalities, means tending constantly to hold said platen in elevated position, means for causing the temporary limited retreat of said plunger, means over the uncovered wall of the package, and means for holding said platen stationary against the force of the elevating means during the temporary retreat and return of saidplunger.

4. In a machine wrapped package, the combination with'Y wrapper folding and afiixing instrumentalifor forming a sealed` for A folding the projecting edges of the wrapper ties for applying an adhesively coated wrapper to allthe walls ofa ackage save one, leavlng the marginal e ges of said wrapper projecting above the plane of said uncovered wall, of a movable package supporting platen, and a coperating plunger' est position, means for folding the projecting edges of the wrapper over the uncovered walls of the platen, and means foil posi- 1 tivelygripping said' platen andholding -it stationary against the force of said elevating means during the temporary retreat and return of the plunger.

5. In a machine Afor forming a sealed wrapped package, the combinationY with wrapper folding and aixing instrumentalities for applying an adhesively coated wrapper to all the walls of a package save f one, leavingthe marginal edges of said vsfrapper1r-c jectinfg above the plane of said uncovere wall, o amovable package 4suppprting platen, and a coperating plunger tween which said 'package and its wraper are supported and carried through said llng/instrumentalities, means tending constantly to hold said platen in elevated ppition, means for causln the temporary Y ted retreat of said p ung'er from its lowest position, means for folding the projecting edges of'the wrapper over the uncovered walls .of the platen, means for positively gripping'said platen and holding it stationary against the force of said elevating means during the temporary retreat and return of the plunger, and means moving in timed relation with the plunger for operatuncover ing the gripping means.

6. In a machine for forming a sealed wrappeod package, Athe combination with .wrapper folding and aixmg instrumentalities for applying an adhesivel coated to allthe walls of a a ge save ges of said wrapperepro] above the plane of said wall, o a movable package sup- 'Y platen, and a coperatmg plunger tween whichsaid package and its wraper are supported and through said ihlding instrumentalities, means for causing a temporaryV limited retreat of said plunger, means for folding the projecting edges of the wrapper over the uncovered walls of the package, a pair of gripping jaws adapted to clamp and hold said platen stationary inits lowered position, and means operating in timed relation w1th the plunger for closing said gripping jaws.

7. In a machine wrapped package, the combination with wrapper folding and aixing instrumentalities for applying an adhesively coate I wrapper to all the walls of a package save one, leaving the marginal edges of said wrapper projecting above the plane of sald uncovered wall, of a movable package supfor forming a sealed i porting platen, and a coperating plunger between which said packa e and its Wrapper are supported and carrled through said y folding mstrumentalities, means for causing a temporary limited retreat of said plunger, means'for folding the projecting edges of the wrapper over the uncovered walls of the package, a pair of gripping jaws adapted to clamp said platen and hold itstationary in its depressed position, a continuously rotating shaft, means on said shaft for operating the plunger and the folding instrumentalities, and otlslher means on the said shaft for o eratin t e gri ping jaws. p8. In machiliie for forming a sealed wrapped package, the combination with wrapper folding and afixing instrumentalities, of a plunger, and a movable platen between which said package and a wrapper are carried through said folding instrumentalities, meansfor temporarily retracting said plunger, a pair of gripping jaws for holding said platen stationary in its depressed position during the retreatof the plunger, a continuously rotating shaft, means on said shaft for operating the plunger and-said folding instrumentalities, and a cam on said shaft for actuating said jaws to l ip the platen.

testimony whereof I have hereunto s et my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY G. SCHWERDTLE.

' Witneses:

. CHARLES H. Nason,

WALTER J. Rice. 

